2011/06 Systems Science and Systems Engineering Synergies

1st Jun 2011

Author

Gary S. Metcalf and David Ing, with Duane Hybertson, Harold "Bud" Lawson, Jennifer M. Wilby, Len Troncale and Hillary Sillitto

Context

At the INCOSE International Workshop in January 2011, Gary Metcalf volunteered to lead a Systems Science Working Group project team towards some preliminary thoughts on the synergies between systems science and systems engineering. This white paper should continue to evolve on the Systems Science Working Group wiki.

For the INCOSE International Symposium in June 2011, David Ing prepared and presented slides to report on progress to date.

Abstract

A white paper will be developed (1) to explain the rationale for the cooperation between INCOSE and the ISSS (and other systems organizations), and (2) to establish the inter-dependencies between systems science and systems engineering more broadly.

The connections between systems engineering (SE) and systems science (SS) trace back for decades. Many SE projects now directly involve large-scale social and environmental systems, such as water management, intelligent communities and cities, healthcare, and others in the realm of service systems. The SSWG has begun a dialog with several systems science societies. A memorandum of understanding has been accepted between INCOSE and the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS), and INCOSE has become a member of the International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR). This white paper is being jointly written, describing the shared foundations between SE and SS.

Citation

Gary S. Metcalf and David Ing, with Duane Hybertson, Harold "Bud" Lawson, Jennifer M. Wilby, Len Troncale and Hillary Sillitto, "Systems Science and Systems Engineering Synergies", INCOSE 21th International Symposium , Denver, Colorado, June 20-24 2011.